Electron beam tube



Sept. 16, 1941.

H. M. WAGNER ELECTRON BEAM TUBE I Filed Nov. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. HERBERT M W4 Sept. 16, 1941.

H. M. WAGNER ELECTRON BEAM TUBE Filed Nov. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. HERBERT M. WA GNER %aw m A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 16, 194i ELECTRON BEAM TUBE Herbert M; Wagner, Kearny, N.5., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of DelawareApplication November 24, 1939, Serial No. 305,847

6 Claims.

My invention relates to electron discharge devices, more particularly toso-called beam tubes in which an electron beam can be deflected by oneor more sets of deflecting electrodes for providing various novelresults.

, It is the principal object of my invention to provide an electrondischarge device of the beam type, particularly suitable for measuringquantities including the phase angular displacement between electricoscillations and voltage power and for other purposes. Another object ofmy invention is to provide such a device in which the output current canbeused to 'maintain a 1 specific condition or conditions governed byphase angular displacement; Another object of my invention is to providesuch a tube which can be used for frequency multiplication and :forcontrolling one or more circuits depending upon the phase angulardisplacement between two difierent electric oscillations in the form ofvoltage or current.

In a simple form of the preferred embodiment of my invention a straightthermionic cathode is enclosed by and placed at the axis of acylindrical electrode provided with. a narrow longitudinal slot parallelto the cathode. Positioned between the slot and the cathode are beamforming elements and beam deflecting elements. The beam is directed toan output electrode or electrodes'and passes between a pair of arcuateshaped deflecting electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the beamand shielding the beam between the output electrode or electrodes andthe slotted cylindrical electrode surrounding the cathode.

Each pair of deflecting electrodes, when the electron discharge deviceis used in a work cir cuit, is connected to a different source ofvoltage whereby the in-phase operation and phase angle difierenceoperation of the applied voltages to the deflecting electrodes producesdifferent results in the output of the tube. The pair of deflectingelectrodes between the slotted elec-' trode and the output electrode canaffect the beam only while it passes through the aperture in the slottedcylindrical electrode and if voltages applied to both sets of deflectingelectrodes are in phase the beam will strike an output electrode at apoint directly opposite the aperture. If the voltage applied to thesecond pair of deflecting electrodes is out of phase the degree to whichthe beam is deflected by the second pair of deflecting electrodes may beused to shift the output current from one output electrode to another ormay be made to shift the beam from the output electrode to points to theleft of a midpoint on the output electrode.

for producing frequency multiplication or for controlling the operationof separate circuits which in turn may be used to control the input,

circuits and thus control the deflection of the beam.

The novel features which I believe to be char--- acteristic of myinvention are'set forth with parj ticularity in the appended claims, butthe invention itself will best be understood by reference to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which Figure 1 is a perspective view partially in section to showdetails of construction of an electron discharg device made according tomy invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the tubeshowing the position of the various electrodes of the mount of the tubeshown in.

Figure 1; Figures 3, 4 and 5 are transversercross sections ofmodifications of electron discharge devices made according to myinvention "and Figures 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams showing. theapplication of tubes made accordingto',my.. invention in associatedcircuits useable withsuch tubes.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 an electron discharge device made accordingto my invention comprises the evacuated envelope l0 provided with areentrant stem and press H upon which the mount is supported between theinsulating spacers l2 and I3, which may be, for example;

of mica.

The indirectly heated cathode M which; maybe of rectangular crosssection is provided along I 5. Surrounding and coaxial with the cathodeis their one face with an emitting coating cylindrical electrode l6provided with the'narrow slot I6 through which the beam of electrons;from the cathode I4 may be directed,.the beam being formed by beamforming rods l1 and dethrough the slot [6' but also shields the beam.from external influences.

An alternating voltage is applied to the control electrodes l8 todeflect the beam acrossthe aperture or slot l6 so that the beam passesto the output electrode l9 only during a smallportion of the cycle ofthe applied voltage. A secright or If 1 a plurality of output electrodesare used each may 1 be connected to the same or different circuits ndalternating voltage is normally applied to the deflecting electrodes 29.The second pair of deflecting electrodes can aifect the beam ofelectrons only between the apertured electrode l6 and the outputelectrode E9, the amount of the deflection of the beam depending uponthe diiference in phase of the voltage applied to the control rods 58and the arcuate shaped beam deflecting electrodes 29.

In operation the narrow beam of electrons from the cathode I l receivesa double deflection, first back and forth across the slot IS in theelectrode [6 and a second deflection after it emerges from the apertureto the region beyond. The first deflection may be caused by a voltage V1sin wt and impressed between the rods l3, and the second deflection maybe caused by a voltage V2 sin (wt-6) between the deflecting members 29,the second voltage between the two plates difiering in phase from thefirst voltage between the two rods by the angle 0. Electrodes it) a eactive in deflecting the beam only part of the time, that is when theelectrons pass through the aperture in the region containing thedeflecting electrodes 29. This instant of time occurs when V1 sin wt isequal to zero or for a short angle plus or minus and is of a shortduration depending upon the width of the aperture in the electrode 55and the narrowness of the beam. At this instant a voltage i V2 sin 0 iseffective in deflecting the beam in the region beyond slotted electrodeit so that the beam will arrive at the electrode ii! in either of twopositions to the right or left of the center point, except when 0 equalszero, that is when there is zero phase angle between the voltages V1 andV2. The beam is then in the center. Thus the point of contact of theelectron beam and hence the amount of deflection of the beam is afunction of V2 sin 0 and serves as a measure of this quantity. Theelectrode may be of a translucent or transparent base coated withfiuorescent material so that it can be used for indicating purposes orcan be so constructed that output can be used for different operationsof electrical devices in accordance with the amount of the deflection ofthe beam. Obviously, if the angle 0 is great no current will flow to theelectrode I9.

Another form of my invention which permits the use of the device incontrolling a plurality of circuits depending upon the phase angulardisplacement of the beam is shown in Figure 3. This device may al o beused to provide frequency multiplication under certain conditions.

Here again the beam is formed by the cathode M and electrodes ii, thefirst deflection being applied by electrodes i8. However, instead ofproviding only one output electrode, three electrodes are shownregistering with the apertures in the shield or electrode 2! positionedat different angular positions with respect to the slot in electrode E8.These output electrodes 22, 23 and 2 are in back of and register withthe slots in the electrode 2!. Thus when the voltages applied to controlelectrodes l3 and deflecting electrodes 28 are in phase the beam willpass through the center aperture to the output electrode "22. After thephase angular displacement reaches a predetermined value, such asindicated by dottcd line b, then the output current is deflected to theoutput electrode 23. If a still further phase displacement takes placeasindicated by dotted line 0, then the output current may be directed tothe output electrode it. Thus electrodes 23 and 26 may be connected todiiierent circuits to be controlled under different phase angulardifferences in the applied voltages. Also by connecting electrodes 22and 23 to the same side of the output circuit it is possible to obtainother effects if in a single swing between the midpoint indicated by thedotted line a and a deflection to either side of this midpoint as far asthat indicated by the deflection b, each of the electrodes 22 and 23receives current during a single cycle of the applied voltages to thetwo sets of deflecting electrodes. The action above described iscontrolled and can be varied by varying the slot width and biases of thecontrol or deflecting electrodes.

A simpler form of Figure 3 is shown in Figure 4. Here the outputelectrodes comprise the elements 25, 26 and 21, forming in effectsuccessively positioned electrodes. In-phase voltages will cause currentto flow only to electrode 21. If a phase angle is sufliciently difierentcurrent will shift to electrodes 25 and 26, which may be connected todifferent circuits or may be connected to the same circuit for frequencymultiplication or for push-pull operation.

In Figure 5 a still further modification of the output electrodes isdisclosed. In this modification one of the output electrodes 29 lies inthe surface of a cylinder which would be generated in continuing thearcuate shaped elements 28', thus providing a pair of slots 3i betweenoutput electrodes 29 and deflecting electrodes 23. A further outputelectrode 3i may be positioned in back of the output electrode 29.

The application of the tube in Figure 4 to a circuit is shown in Figure6. The beam forming electrodes H are connected by means of a conductorto a supply voltage 35 negative to the cathode, while the electrode 8provided with slot it is at a positive potential with respect to thecathode. Input cicuits 38 and 39 are connected to deflecting electrodesi3 and 28 respectively. Under in-phase conditions only circuit llconnected to output electrode 2? is energized whereas under otherconditions of phase angular difference the push-pull circuit fill isenergized. While this is shown as a push-pull circuit, if both of theelectrodes 25 and .26 were connected to the same side of the primarytransformer double the frequency would result since'the circuit wouldreceive two shocks in the same direction for each cycle of the appliedvoltage.

In Figure '7 is shown the application of the tube shown in Figure 5 to adifferent kind of circuit. Here electrode 28 is connected to one outputcircuit ti for applying a D. C. voltage which can be used for controlpurposes. This electrode receives current when voltages applied to theinput 33 and 33 are in-phaso. If the applied voltages are sufllcientlyout of phase, then electrode 3i draws current which can be applied as aD. C. voltage if desired to the output circuit til. If in circuits 36and (H the resistors are replaced by transformers, steep voltage formscan be obtained from the transformers.

While I have indicated the preferred embodiments of my invention ofwhich I am now aware and have also indicated only one specificapplication for which my invention may be employed, it will be apparentthat my invention is by no means limited to the exact forms illusiratedor the use indicated, but that many variations may be made in theparticular structure used and the purpose for which it is employedwithout departing from the scope'of my invention as set forth in theappended claims. What I claim as new is:

1. An electron discharge device having an envelope containing athermionic cathode, a cylindrical electrode surrounding and coaxial withsaid cathode and provided with a longitudinal slot parallel to saidcathode, means for forming the electrons from said cathode into a beampassing through the slot in said cylindrical electrode and means betweensaid slot and said cathode for deflecting the beam of electrons acrosssaid slot, an output electrode for receiving the beam of electrons and apair of deflecting electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the beamfor deflecting the beam after it emerges through the slot in saidcylindrical electrode and shielding the beam between the outputelectrode and said slot.

2. An electron discharge device having an envelope containing athermionic cathode, a cylindrical electrode surrounding and coaxial withsaid cathode and provided with a longitudinal slot parallel to saidcathode, means for forming the electrons from said cathode into a beampassing through the slot in said cylindrical electrode and means betweensaid slot and said cathode for deflecting the beam of electrons acrosssaid slot, a pair of deflecting electrodes positioned on opposite sidesof the beam for deflecting the beam after it emerges through the slot insaid cylindrical electrode, an electrode vin the path of said beam andprovided with a plurality of apertures at different angular positionswith respect to the slot in said cylindrical electrode and outputelectrodes positioned in registry with said apertures on the oppositeside of said apertured electrode from said cylindrical electrode, saiddeflecting electrodes being of arcuate shape and extending from saidslotted cylindrical electrode to said electrode having a plurality ofapertures for shielding said beam.

3. An electron discharge device having an envelope containing athermionic cathode, a cylindrical electrode surrounding and coaxial withsaid cathode and provided with a longitudinal slot parallel to saidcathode, means for forming the electrons from said cathode into a beampassing through the slot in said cylindrical electrode and means betweensaid slot and said cathode for deflecting the beam of electrons acrosssaid slot, successive output electrodes positioned in the path of saidbeam and each having a surface exposed to the beam at a diflerentangular position with respect to the slot in the cylindrical electrode,a pair of deflecting electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the beamand extending between the cylindrical electrode and said outputelectrodes for deflecting the beam after it emerges through the slot insaid cylindrical electrode and serving to shield the beam between theoutput electrodes and said slot.

4. An electron discharge device having an envelope containing athermionic cathode, a J

cylindrical electrode surrounding and coaxial with said cathode andprovided with a longitudinal slot parallel to said cathode, means forforming the electrons from said cathode into a beam passing through theslot in said cylindrical electrode and means between said slot and saidcathode for deflecting the beam of elec--.

trons across said slot, a pair of deflecting electrodes of arcuate shapepositioned on opposite sides of the beam for deflecting the beam afterit emerges through the slot in said cylindrical,

5. An electron discharge device having a cathode for supplying electronsand meansfor" forming said electrons into a beam, an electrodesurrounding said cathode and provided with a slot registering with saidbeam and deflecting means for deflecting said beam across said slot; andan electrode element in the path of the beam and provided with aplurality of apertures at different angular positions with respect tothe slot in the slotted electrode and a separate output electrode inregistry with each or the apertures and on the other side of saidapertured electrode element from said cathode, and deflecting electrodespositioned between said slotted electrode and said apertured electrode,said pairs of deflecting electrodes and said deflecting means fordeflecting the beam in the same plane, said electron discharge devicehaving no other deflecting electrodes positioned between said aperturedelectrode and said slotted electrode.

6. An electron discharge device having a cathode for emitting electrons,means for form ing said electrons into a beam, output electrodes lyingin the surface of a cylinder for receiving said electrons, an electrodepositioned between the cathode and the output electrodes and providedwith a slot through which the beam from said cathode passes, anddeflecting electrodes on each side of the slotted'electrode fordeflecting the beam of electrons in the same I plane and a secondarcuate shaped electrode having apertures registering with said outputelectrodes and positioned between said output electrodes and saidcathode, said pairs of deflecting electrodes being the only deflectingelectrodes between the cathode and the output electrodes. 7 HERBERT M.WAGNER.

